and חׇפְשִׁית; from חָפַשׁ; (with בַּיִת, a hospital); prostration by sickness; several.
Transliteration:chophshûwth
Pronunciation:khof-shooth'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term חׇפְשׁוּת (chophshûwth, `{{H2669}}`) is a rare noun whose core meaning is best understood as "prostration by sickness" or a state of being "free" or "separated" due to a debilitating condition. It derives from the root חָפַשׁ (chaphash, `{{H2664}}`), which primarily means "to search," "examine," or "explore." However, a secondary nuance of the root can imply "to be free" or "unrestrained." In the context of חׇפְשׁוּת, this "freedom" is not one of positive liberty, but rather a negative freedom—a release from normal societal interaction, duties, and privileges due to severe illness, leading to isolation or quarantine. The base definition's reference to "with בַּיִת, a hospital" points to a house or place dedicated to those in such a state of prostration or separation. It denotes a condition of being set apart, often involuntarily, by disease.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term חׇפְשׁוּת (chophshûwth, `{{H2669}}`) appears in only two instances within the Hebrew Bible, both in the context of King Uzziah (also known as Azariah) being afflicted with leprosy:
* **[[2 Kings 15:5]]**: "And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house." Here, the phrase "separate house" translates בֵּית הַחׇפְשׁוּת (beit hachophshuth). This signifies a dwelling of isolation, where King Azariah was confined due to his leprosy, effectively removed from his royal duties and public life.
* **[[2 Chronicles 26:21]]**: "And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land." This parallel account confirms the meaning, explicitly stating that Uzziah was "cut off from the house of the LORD," emphasizing his exclusion from the temple and sacred space due to his ritual impurity and physical condition.
In both contexts, the "separate house" (beit hachophshuth) serves as a place of enforced isolation, a consequence of divine judgment for Uzziah's transgression (usurping the priestly role in burning incense, as detailed in [[2 Chronicles 26:16-20]]). The term thus vividly portrays the king's prostration by sickness and his subsequent removal from the community and his office, underscoring the severity of his condition and its social and religious implications.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary lexical connection for חׇפְשׁוּת (chophshûwth, `{{H2669}}`) is its root, חָפַשׁ (chaphash, `{{H2664}}`). While chaphash often means "to search" or "examine," its rarer sense of "to be free" or "unrestrained" provides the semantic bridge. The "freedom" implied by chophshûwth is a negative one: freedom *from* social interaction, *from* responsibilities, and *from* access to sacred spaces, all due to the incapacitation of illness.
Related concepts include:
* **Leprosy (צָרַעַת, tsara'at, `{{H6883}}`):** A condition carrying severe ritual impurity and requiring strict isolation under Mosaic Law (e.g., [[Leviticus 13-14]]).
* **Isolation/Separation (בָּדַד, badad, `{{H909}}`):** The state of being alone or cut off, often due to impurity or distress.
* **Impurity (טֻמְאָה, tum'ah, `{{H2932}}`):** The ritual state that necessitated separation from the community and the sanctuary.
The term highlights the ancient understanding of disease, particularly leprosy, not merely as a physical ailment but as a condition with profound social, religious, and even theological ramifications, often linked to sin and divine judgment.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of חׇפְשׁוּת (chophshûwth, `{{H2669}}`) is profound, despite its limited occurrences. It serves as a stark biblical illustration of several key theological principles:
1. **Divine Judgment and Consequence of Sin:** The most prominent theological lesson is that chophshûwth is a direct result of divine judgment. King Uzziah's leprosy and subsequent isolation were God's immediate and severe punishment for his sacrilege in presuming to offer incense in the temple, a duty reserved for the priests ([[2 Chronicles 26:16-20]]). This demonstrates that sin, especially against God's established order, carries tangible and often public consequences.
2. **Holiness and Purity:** The concept underscores the Old Testament's emphasis on holiness and ritual purity. Leprosy rendered an individual ritually unclean, necessitating their removal from the camp or community and especially from proximity to the sanctuary. This separation protected the holiness of God and His dwelling place from defilement, even when the defiler was the king.
3. **Sovereignty of God over Disease:** The narrative affirms God's absolute sovereignty, extending even to the infliction and management of disease as a means of discipline, justice, and upholding His covenant. God smites the king, and God dictates the terms of his separation.
4. **The Nature of Leadership:** It implicitly teaches about the accountability of leaders before God. Even kings, the highest human authority, are subject to divine law and judgment, and their transgressions can lead to public humiliation and removal from office.
### Summary
The Hebrew term חׇפְשׁוּת (chophshûwth, `{{H2669}}`) signifies a state of prostration by sickness, leading to enforced isolation or separation from normal life. Appearing exclusively in the context of King Uzziah's leprosy in [[2 Kings 15:5]] and [[2 Chronicles 26:21]], it describes the "separate house" where he was confined due to his divine affliction. Derived from a root meaning "to search" or "be free," chophshûwth conveys a negative freedom—a release from societal engagement due to debilitating illness and ritual impurity. Theologically, it powerfully illustrates the consequences of sin, divine judgment, the critical importance of holiness and purity in ancient Israel, and God's sovereign control over human affairs, including the physical well-being of even the most powerful leaders.
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